Before stepping into the real world of nursing, one must pass their licensure examinations first!

Reviewing board exam questions are just a way of further enhancing your knowledge and confidence for one
of the most important test in your life. What you must remember is that you are already knowledgeable about
cores of nursing, but this knowledge would be futile if you cannot practice effective test-taking skills during
your exams.
Researches suggest that an examiner who fully understands test construction and familiar with appropriate test-
taking strategies score higher than those with similar level of knowledge but with inadequate test-taking skills.
Multiple choice tests are different from tests such as essays, identifications and true/false. In multiple choice
exams, the question is called the stem. The stem is followed by four alternative answers. One answer is
correct, and the other three are called distracter because they distract your attention from identifying the
correct answer. Note also that these distracter are not necessarily incorrect answers but rather they may not be
as correct as as the one you are required to choose.
Here we have 12 effective test-taking skills and strategies that can help you during your examinations:
1. Do not read extra meaning into the question
Tests questions are made to be direct and to the point. The question asks for one particular response and
you should not read or add other information into the question.
Often you will find questions that require common sense answers and that reading into these questions
may give you an other interpretation. You should not search for subtle meaning about the questions or
answers.
Ask yourself What is the question asking?. Look for keywords and phrases to help you understand.
Interpret the question correctly first before reading into the choices.
2. Understand exactly what the stem is asking before considering the distracter
Make sure you read the stem correctly. Notice particularly the way the question is phrase. Is it asking for
the best response or the initial response? Understand what the question is asking.
3. Rephrase the question in your own words
This technique requires you to interpret or translate the question into your own words so that it is very
clear in your own mind. Rephrasing the stem of the question can assist your read the question correctly
and in turn choose the appropriate response.
Placing the question into your own words would help you in removing extraneous data and get into the
core of the stem.
4. When analyzing the distracter, isolate what is important in the answer alternatives from what is not
important relative to the question.
In a good test construction, all of the distracter should be feasible and reasonable and should apply directly
to the stem. There should be a commonality in all of the distracter.
Also, all of the distracter may be correct but not the right chose for the specific question that is being
asked. The technique here is to ask yourself whether each possible alternative is true or false in relation to
the stem.
5. After choosing the correct answer alternative and separating it form the distracter, go back to the
stem and make sure your choice does, in fact, answer the question.
Many test-takers fail to recheck the answer with the stem, and they answer the question incorrectly.
An effective strategy is to judge all four alternative choices against the stem and not against one another.
Read the stem, then check alternative 1 against the stem, then check alternative 2 against the stem and so
on. This process will eliminate choosing an alternative that does not fit with the question.
6. When a question contains multiple variables as alternative choices, use the elimination of variable
technique.
Each question may pose different alternatives with several variables. Use the process of elimination. Study
the question first and ask yourself what variable fits with this condition, or after examining the distracter
underline the symptom that you know is correct. Now ask yourself what variable is not present with this
condition. Again examine the distracter and cross out those variables that are incorrect. By this process
your probably eliminated at least two distracter even without taking the time to consider the other two.
7. When answering a difficult question, utilize your body of knowledge.
When you come across a difficult question and you cannot immediately identify the answer, go back to
your body of knowledge and draw all the information that you do know about the condition.
If you are unfamiliar with the disease or disorder and cannot choose the right nursing action, try to
generalize to other situations. For example, if the question asks about dog bites, and youve never learned
the course of the disorder, go back to an area of k nowledge that you do know, for example, circulation
and body response to toxic substances.
Even though you do not know exactly what to d, you might know what not to do. Eliminate distracter to
increase your chances of arriving at the correct answer.
8. The ability to guess correctly is both a skill and an art.
The board exams is not a right minus wrong type. It is important for you to answer every question even
if you have to guess. Guessing gives you only a 25% chance of getting the correct answer.
Try to eliminate at least one (or more) distracter as this will increase the percentage margin of chance for
guessing correctly.
Examine the distracter and if one is the exact opposite of another (e.g. complete bed rest is different from
activity as tolerated; both cannot be correct since they are of opposites), choose the one that seems to be
most logical.
Try to identify the underlying principle that supports the question. If you can answer the question, you
might then be able to guess the correct answer. This strategy is especially true with a psychosocial
question.
Look at the way the alternatives are presented. Are there two answers that are very close? often when this
occurs, the ability to discriminate will show evidence of judgement. Check to see if one, more than the
other, is the best choice for the question.
Are there distracter that are presented not logical (which are correct in themselves but do not have
anything to do with the question)? Eliminate these and focus on other alternatives.
Use your intuition. If you cannot choose an alternative from a logical point, allow yourself to feel which
one might be right. Often your subconscious mind will choose correctly (based on all the conscious
knowledge you have of course) so simply let yourself feel which alternative might be right. Remember, its
better to choose one answer than none at all.
9. Choosing answer from a hunch
There comes a time when you are faced with a certain question and you have a hunch that this particular
choice is correct. Do we depend on this hunch?. Current studies supports that hunches are often correct,
for they are based on rapid subconscious connections in the brain.
Your stored knowledge, recall, and experience can combine to assist you in arriving at the correct answer.
So, if you have an initial hunch, go with it! Do not chance the answer if and only if, upon reflection, it just
doesnt seem right. On the other hand, if later in the test you find relevant information or make new
connection of information and you feel that your answer was incorrect, do go back and change it.
10. Choosing the best answer from a strategy point-of-view.
Frequently, the most comprehensive answer is the best choice (Longest the best!). For example, if two
alternatives seems reasonable but one answer includes the other (i.e., it is more detailed, more
comprehensive), then this answer would be the best choice. If an answer focuses on medical knowledge,
be wary, for this alternative might be just a good distractor. Remember, this is a nursing test and questions
are designed to test your nursing competency and safety.
It is unlikely that a question would require a medical action for the correct answer; it may, however offer
these actions as distracter.
Beware of answers that contain specific qualifiers, such as always and never. they rarely fit within a
logical framework.
11. Time Management is important
Time allotment for each question in the NLE is 2 hours/100 questions is equal to 1.2 minutes. It is
important to use your time wisely and program yourself not to spend too much time on one question.
Since your are not penalized for incorrect answers, it is important to finish each portion of the test.
Prepare yourself to practice time management by timing yourself for each question during your sample
exams.
12. Let the Divine Intervention Intervene
If you cannot answer the question. Have faith in the Lord and thus youll be confident to answer each
question. If you do not know, He knows. Ask for Gods help! Remember, you are doing this for His glory!
Reference:
Smith S. (1989). Review questions for NCLEX-RN 5th Edition.